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            In This Section
        Current Projects
                Advanced Components
                                Overview
                Advanced Tri-Coupler
                Conventional Equipment Projects
                Crash Energy Management Projects
                Damage Assessment and Improved Inspection Systems
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                Automated Cracked Wheel Detection
                Effects of Temperature on Wheel Shelling
                Electrically Driven Hand Brake (EDHB)
                High Speed Passenger Trucks Study
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                Train Energy and Dynamics Simulator (TEDS)
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                Wireless Sensor Network Standards for Real-Time Railcar Monitoring and Alerting
                
                Conventional Equipment Projects
    

    
    
          Current Projects:

A series of full-scale quasi-static and dynamic tests are planned on conventional equipment of various designs to establish the baseline level of performance to loading conditions established based on a review of historical accident consequences or active field investigations. Such testing is conducted to use as the basis for comparison of alternative designs to be developed to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the new design strategies. This information serves as input into development of costs and benefits for establishing a rationale basis for improving existing standards or developing standards.

End Frame Quasi-static Full-scale Tests

Development of alternative means of implementing a large deformation quasi-static test on end frame designs.

Two Car Multi-level Impact Test

Establishment of the baseline level of performance for multi-level passenger railcar.

Quasi-Static Squeeze Test

Research effort to establish alternative loading test protocols for new passenger rail equipment not designed for use with conventional draft gear arrangements. The purpose of the squeeze tests is to assess the contributions to bending and compression on the carbody structure under the prescribed loading conditions specified in federal requirement for these non-conventional railcars.

Completed Projects:

Evaluation of Cab Car Crashworthiness Design Modifications
	Crashworthiness of Passenger Trains
	Simulation of an Oblique Collision of a Locomotive and an Intermodal Container
	A Numerical Evaluation of Protection Strategies for Railroad Cab Car Crashworthiness
	Static and Dynamic Crush testing an Analysis of a Rail Corner Structural Element
	Rail Passenger Equipment Crashworthiness Testing Requirements and Implementation
	Rail Passenger Equipment Collision Tests:  Analysis of Structural Measurements
	Rail Passenger Equipment Accidents and the Evaluation of Crashworthiness Strategies
	Train-to-Train Impact Test:  Analysis of Structural Measurements
	U.S. Rail Equipment Crashworthiness Standards
	Vehicle Postmortem and Data Analysis of a Passenger Rail Car Collision Test
	Development of a Computer Model for Prediction of Collision Response of a Railroad Passenger Car
	An Overview of Passenger Equipment Full-Scale Impact Tests
	Evaluation of Rail Passenger Equipment Crashworthiness Strategies
	Collision Safety Comparison of Conventional and Crash Energy Management Passenger Rail Car Designs
	Analysis of Collision Safety Associated with Conventional and Crash Energy Management Cars Mixed Within a Consist
	Documentation of Deformation from Passenger Rail Two-Car Impact Test
	Rail-Car Impact Tests with Steel Coil:  Collision Dynamics
	Analysis of Colliding Vehicle Interactions for the Passenger Rail Train-to-Train Impact Test
	Full-Scale Two-Car Impact Test:  Comparison of Measured and Model Results
	Crashworthiness Analysis of the Placentia, CA Rail Collision
	Review of Sever Deformation Recommended Practice Through Analyses - Comparison of Two Cab Car End Frame Designs
	A Collision Dynamics Model of a Multi-Level Train
	Development of Conventional Passenger Cab Car End Structure Designs for Full Scale Testing
	Crush Analysis of Multi-Level Equipment
	Effectiveness of Alternative Rail Passenger Equipment Crashworthiness Strategies
	Passenger Cab Car Grade Crossing Impact Test Report
	Detailed Modeling of the Train-to-Train Impact Test:  Rail Passenger Equipment Impact Tests
	Repair of Budd Pioneer Coach Car Crush Zones
              
      
    
          Last updated: Tuesday, November 12, 2019 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

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